The Solar System is common knowledge and the stars through important as not really fascinating enough to do a science project about. So what do you feature in your science project based on outer space? How about the lesser celestial bodies like the moon, other satellites of different planets or even the asteroid belt?

The emerging interest in the moon is based on the discovery of water on it by the Chandrayan. This astonishing discovery has been confirmed by NASA and promises to change the way we look at space travel or exploration. You could do a scientific study on how much simpler it will be to launch space crafts from the moon if it has water.

Or if that sounds like too much work, how about chronicling the various natural satellites of all the planets in the Solar System? A set of celestial bodies which has little exposure even in most models of the Solar System. You could do scale models and a study in comparison of them all.

Still not motivated? Or maybe running short of time before the science fair? Then stick to a simpler topic such as the asteroid belt between Earth and Mars. Discuss the dwarf planet which seems to have split up to form the asteroid belt. Speculate about reasons why it happened. And make sure you have a lot of pictures on your display board. That will make the project look all the more interesting.

If you feel that the Solar System is too simple or just plain boring to make your science fair model, how about trying one on the life cycle of a star. You could chronicle the various stages in the birth and life of a star and make related models for them as part of your science project.

You could talk about the different processes that are in action as the star goes from protostar to a white dwarf.  In the display you could use the information about the different types of stars recorded and give images for them. You could even explain the inner mechanisms of the star by giving the chemical processes that take place within the star.

Explain how the interstellar dust becomes a twinkling star. You could even do an in-depth analysis of our own Star, the Sun.  Maybe elevate fears of the sun dying on us as well. You can talk about why stars appear to twinkle when seen from the earth, but do not twinkle when you are out in space. The stars can give you enough material to make a number of science projects many times over.

It is up to your to choose what you wish to base your project on. There is great scope for Topic Research in this field and you can get help with organizing your research if you follow the link. Go from gazing at the stars to explaining how they work.

Your model is made, you are ready with your display board and your science fair report is written. So what else is left for you to do? You need to now work on your presentation skills for showcasing your model to the judges at the science fair. Just remember it is a competition and the only way to win is to take active part in the game.

Start with the script. Don’t think that you can ad lib it when you see the judges. A good written script will allow you the freedom to work on your expressions once you have the words down pat. Try this paragraph from the BBC’s Science and Nature website for a conversation starter.

“Our Solar System began forming about 4.6 billion years ago from a swirling gas cloud. Over time, the gas cooled and clumped together to form large bodies called ‘protoplanets’. The ‘left over’ material became comets, roaming silently through the Solar System.”

Doesn’t this sound much better than anything that you can come up with on the spur of the moment. Now get down to writing a script which will take you about a minute and a half to speak out. Not more than that as it will become too long. Stick to the important bits and be prepared for any questions that may follow from your presentation script.

If you need more tips to spruce up your presentation skills take a look here. The trick to being confident during the presentation is knowing all your facts well. After that it is easier to answer questions thrown at you from the judges and your confidence will shine through in your answers.

There is so much that you can add to the display board if you make the Solar System Model as your science fair project. The more details you add the better researched the project looks to the judges. Here is some trivia that you can add to the display board and in your science fair report.

Give details about the planets that you have shown in the model. For instance the closest planets to the Sun, which are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, are called terrestrial planets. This is because they have rocky surfaces. While Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are called gas giants due to their large and gaseous states.

The gas giant planets also have many rings and lots of moons. If you name them all you will have a pretty long report. You can also mention the dwarf planets of Pluto, Ceres and Eris. These were added to the solar system when the International Astronomical Union redefined the term planet in August 2006.

Most models will not include comets but you can mention them on the display board to show that you are aware of their existence. You can add facts about the comets that fly past the Sun of our Solar System. These can include details on Halley, Hale-Bopp and Ikeya-Zhang. Find more details to improve your display here.

Do remember to add pictures as they make the facts come alive. There are some great photographs available on the internet and you should not have any trouble finding appropriate images to use on the display board.

One of the most popular science fair models based on the celestial sky would be that of the Solar System. The Sun with its planets in orbit around it is not only easy to make, but is also fun to learn. This easy project is ideal for elementary school science fair projects.

Getting the different sized balls to explain the difference between the sizes of all the planets is a great way to fix relative planet sizes in the minds of the student. Nothing beats setting up a project all on your own. The sense of achievement and accomplishment are great.

With the Solar System Model the students can do it all on their own. All that is needed is to get hold of a good diagram of the Solar System, and then replicate it in 3D. Any material can be used as long as it is sturdy enough to survive being worked with.

For the planets you can use ping pong balls, tennis balls, cricket balls, softball or even footballs. Then cover them in paint corresponding to the planet’s color. Get the Sun fixed in the center of the board and mark the orbits of the planets around it.

You can add as many details as you like to the model. The Asteroid belt between the Earth and Mars, or the moons of all the planets, don’t forget the rings of Saturn. Just have fun and enjoy the process.  If you are looking for more elementary science projects you may find some more here.

The stars have fascinated mankind since ancient times, so why not base your science fair project on them. The two branches of science that have emerged from this fascination are Astrology and Astronomy. The early Astronomers grouped the shiny stars at night into shapes. These came to be known as constellations.

The twelve most famous constellations relate to the Zodiac Signs. This is where Astronomy comes into play. The different signs of the zodiac are based on these twelve different constellations, namely Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Wouldn’t it make an interesting science project to display the Celestial Sphere divided into these 12 large sectors based on these signs. Make the shapes of the twelve main zodiac constellations in the model. Have each constellation joined up with straws or string to show the shape.

This model will need to be made like a jigsaw puzzle that you can assemble on the spot. After all a large project like this is also likely to be rather delicate. Try and stick to the actual size scale of the constellations to maintain some authenticity in the celestial sphere.

The model could be supplemented with a display of the symbols of all zodiac signs along with their shape. As an interesting add on you could describe the main characteristics of the people born under that particular sign below the astronomical symbol.  You could add trivia regarding famous people born under particular zodiac signs as well. Get more help here

The science fair project is just half the story at the fair. The actual presentation of the project, including the display board adds to the project.  So what does one do to make the whole project a success? You have to pay attention to all the details from start to finish. Remember the proverb, “Well begun is half done”?

So also think about the proverb “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. The first step to your science project is topic selection. Make sure that your display board makes the topic of your presentation as clear as possible. Don’t be ambiguous about what you have to say here.

Think of your project display board as the headlines in a newspaper. Only if the headline is attention catching will the reader come close and read all that is written. It helps to be a bit color coordinated to make the board look attractive. If you can not draw illustrations, take print outs. Be as neat and tidy as possible.

Check out this post about improving your project display. You do not want to make a display board that seems more attractive than your actual science project. So be careful about what all you add to it. Remember it must introduce the project and make the reader want to see it. It is used to draw the interest of the visitors and the judges to your project.

Science is best explained with practice experiments. You may talk about air pressure and its effects, but the same principle when seen in action will have a far higher impact. Similarly you can talk about the buoyancy of fluids, but to actually see a ship floating in the tub is far better.

The more you put science into action the faster you understand how it works. That’s why when the air comes rushing out of a deflated balloon the concept of air pressure catches your attention far better. The mere reading about it, is never as much fun or memorable as the experiments or science projects that you can do.

Education is not just what you read in the books. It is what you live out in life each day. Learning never stops, it is only the forum which changes. In fact no matter how many days we studied there would never be enough time to actually go through all the knowledge  that has been collected by the human race.

If you have fun you learn faster. That is an accepted truth. So why not have fun with science at home?Here are some slimy and silly experiments for you to do. If you enjoy them you can read up more about why exactly these materials tend to act the way they do.

And if these science experiments appeal to you there are a whole lot more that you can try out. There is a whole world of fun and learning out there. Chart your way into it.

In  the last post I described the effects of misusing one resource, namely electricity. Many of the science experiments need this resource.  In fact a lot of science fair projects tend to need some source of power often supplied by batteries. The truth is that you can make a science project without using a source of power. No electricity and no batteries required.

Most of us think that without using power sources only boring science projects are possible. This is just not true. Even without using electricity you can do interesting projects. In fact without buying any new material and by merely reusing things that are lying around the home you can make a great new science project. All it takes is a little imagination and creativity.

Try out this science project. I am sure you will enjoy it and yes it uses no electricity. Plus it uses a universal favorite food – ketchup. It also explains a scientific principle really well. It may not be science fair material but it does prove something. Making it is a creative , easy to do project which does not use electricity.

Similarly you can pick up other things from around the home and make a science project for the fair. You can check out more recycled products and convert them into a science project. Think about possible material such as cans, bottles, newspapers and even old magazines. Anything can be converted into an interesting project if you give some thought to it.

Resources are limited. The need to conserve what we have is very important. Here is what an official from the Ministry of Defence from Brazil had to say, “In the coming era of scarcity, we’re going to have to defend what we’ve got with our claws, our feet and our weapons”. Does it sound too dramatic? It may just come true.

So what is the real problem here? Does the Earth not have enough resources to help keep all its population comfortable? It does have the resources, the problem lies in the distribution of these resources. The bulk of these resources are available to a marginal percentage of the population. For instance things that we take for granted like electricity, clean water and a home are not available to a majority of people in poor nations.

How often have you left the bulb in the basement on all night? Did you know that you were wasting electricity? Its is not just about the mounting electric bill that your parents have to pay. It is also about respecting the fact that you have a responsibility to use the resources at your command.

YOU can make a difference by taking small steps. Use Eco Friendly Material for your Science Project. You don’t have to buy new things to make a project out of. Use stuff from around the home. Try out this experimental gluep. I’m sure you will enjoy making this and it will not be a burden on nature’s resources.